CVE-2018-1072 in ovirt-engine
Summary
by MITRE
ovirt-engine before version ovirt 4.2.2 is vulnerable to an information exposure through log files. When engine-backup was run with one of the options "--provision*db", the database username and password were logged in cleartext. Sharing the provisioning log might inadvertently leak database passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1072 represents a critical information exposure flaw within the oVirt engine platform prior to version 4.2.2. This security weakness stems from improper handling of sensitive credentials during database provisioning operations, specifically when the engine-backup command is executed with the "--provision*db" options. The vulnerability exposes database authentication credentials in cleartext within log files, creating a significant risk for unauthorized access to backend database systems. The issue directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of database access controls within virtualized infrastructure environments that rely on oVirt for management and orchestration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the logging level within the engine-backup utility where database connection parameters including usernames and passwords are written to log files without proper sanitization or encryption. When administrators execute backup operations with database provisioning options, the command-line arguments containing sensitive authentication information are captured in the system logs, making them accessible to any user with read permissions on the log files. This cleartext exposure violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and represents a failure in proper input validation and output sanitization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses the improper handling of sensitive information in logs, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in secure logging practices as outlined in the CWE taxonomy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass broader security implications for virtualized environments. Organizations using affected versions of oVirt engine face potential unauthorized database access, data breaches, and privilege escalation attacks when backup logs containing cleartext credentials are inadvertently shared or accessed by unauthorized personnel. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where multiple administrators have access to log files or where log sharing practices are common within operational workflows. Attackers could leverage this information to gain persistence within virtualized infrastructures, potentially compromising the entire virtualization platform and associated workloads. This vulnerability also creates compliance issues with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which mandate proper protection of sensitive information in logs and audit trails.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1072 require immediate implementation of software updates to oVirt engine version 4.2.2 or later, which addresses the cleartext logging issue through proper credential sanitization in backup operations. Organizations should implement log access controls and permissions to restrict read access to backup logs containing sensitive information, utilizing role-based access controls and principle of least privilege. Additionally, system administrators should establish log rotation policies and implement centralized logging solutions with proper filtering mechanisms to prevent sensitive data exposure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1070.004, which addresses indicator removal on host, as organizations may need to audit and clean existing log files that contain the exposed credentials. Security monitoring should include log file scanning for credential patterns, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential credential compromise scenarios. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should verify that no cleartext credentials remain in system logs or backup files, ensuring comprehensive protection against this information exposure vulnerability.